State Roundup, November 11, 2011

DISTRICTING SUIT FILED: Ben Pershing of the Post reports that, as was reported here yesterday, nine Maryland voters filed a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court alleging that the state’s new congressional district map violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the electoral strength of minorities.

An Iowa-based foundation is financing the federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn Maryland’s new congressional map on the grounds that it unconstitutionally splits minority communities, Annie Linskey reports for the Sun. The foundation also defended Arizona’s contentious immigration law.

CHILD ABUSE NOTIFICATION: The Penn State scandal is having an impact in Maryland. Right now, an educator in Maryland must notify the police if they have reason to believe a child has been abused. But if they don’t, there is only a civil fine. WMAR-TV is reporting that state Sen. Nancy Jacobs says that’s not enough: “We are looking at criminal penalties, especially in the instance of an educator.”

SHA OFFICIAL LEAVES: The top procurement official at the State Highway Administration has left the agency four months after a harshly critical legislative audit criticized the agency’s performance in the awarding of contracts, Michael Dresser writes for the Sun.

SUPER SEARCH: Both praise and criticism for Maryland education practices under now retired state Superintendent of Education Nancy Grasmick were prevalent at one of seven forums held through yesterday to discuss the search for her replacement, Laura Buck writes for SoMDNews.com.

CURRIE TRIAL: Blogging for the Post, John Wagner writes that for another juror in the corruption and bribery trial of state Sen. Ulysses Currie, there were just too many holes in the case to convict him. “It wasn’t proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Kelly Cavanaugh, 28. “I thought the prosecution did a great job with what they had, but they didn’t have enough evidence.”

ONLINE DISCLOSURE: Margie Hyslop in the Gazette reports that Senate President Mike Miller now supports making financial disclosure forms available online since most officials file them electronically. This will be part of the review of ethics rules in the wake of the trial of Sen. Ulysses Currie.

6th DISTRICT CANDIDATE: Maryland Juice is re-reporting that the Democratic field for the 6th Congressional district held by U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett will grow by one very soon: Milad Pooran recently met with members of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee

LOWER AGE TO SERVE: Baltimore city voters passed, by an overwhelming 3-1 margin, legislation that lowers the age of eligibility for local office from 21 to 18. This effort now affords Baltimore city 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds the same benefit offered to others in surrounding Maryland jurisdictions, Jerry Shandrowsky of Anne Arundel Politics writes.

MEANINGLESS ELECTION: The Sun editorial board opines that with Baltimore city’s General Election results – landslide victories and low voter turnout – alternatives would make the city’s general election meaningful.

TAX BREAK MORATORIUM: Luke Broadwater of the Sun reports that the Baltimore City Council’s finance committee chairman threatened yesterday to impose a moratorium on tax breaks for developers until City Hall implements more transparency in the process and funds more projects outside of downtown.

CITY RESPONDS: Baltimore city officials have responded to a fiery Oct. 21 letter from state Sen. Jim Brochin — in which the Towson Democrat lodged complaints about city use of fire roads in the forest buffer of Loch Raven Reservoir that is in his district — by assuring him that action has been taken, writes Kevin Rector of the Towson Times.

SENTENCE RECOMMENDATION: Prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence former Prince George’s County councilwoman Leslie Johnson to a year or more in jail, saying she was part of a corrupt culture including illicit fundraising for her council race, according to an AP report in the Sun.

EMINENT DOMAIN: The Howard County Charter Review Commission, in a 7-5 vote yesterday, decided not to recommend a charter amendment on eminent domain, leaving the future of Councilman Greg Fox’s resolution on the matter up in the air, Lindsey McPherson reports for the Howard County Times. Regulations on eminent domain, the legal process by which a government can condemn land for public use, are not currently covered in the charter.

SESSION FORECAST: Sarah Breitenbach in the Gazette forecasts that jobs and taxes will dominate the upcoming session of the General Assembly, but the governor’s staff is still working out his legislative program.

SCHOOL TAXES: A Frederick County proposal to make its school board financially independent appears to have little momentum in Annapolis and may not be able to overcome tradition and history, Andrew Ujifusa writes in the Gazette.

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED: Baltimore-Washington region’s aging infrastructure is a roadblock to growth, and business executives say more investment is needed in highways and mass transit, according to a report by Steve Monroe in the Gazette.

MILLIONAIRES’ TAX: Higher state income taxes on the highest incomes will be introduced again in Annapolis, generating $60 million to $70 million a year, Sarah Breitenbach reports in the Gazette.

MAILED VOTES: Montgomery County voters would be able to cast their votes in special elections through a mail-in ballot under legislation proposed by Sen. Jennie Forehand, according to a Gazette story by Erin Cunningham.

KRATOVIL: The Gazette’s Sarah Breitenbach interviews former Congressman Frank Kratovil about why he will not be running to retake his seat from Rep. Andy Harris.

NOTEBOOK: The Gazette’s Reporters Notebook has items on Heather Mizeur’s speech at the White House demo; two lawmakers pass the bar; Del. Michael Vaughn and the FCC; Ben Cardin at NIST; and Chris Van Hollen’s green award.